National Insurance

[london_prem]

I got Tier 1 general from delhi.

1) Is National Insurance same as SSN (social security number) in USA? Which number do companies use to judge credit history of a person in UK?

2) Is NI number also used in opening bank accounts? I am asking because when I was in USA, they require SSN number for everything we do (getting phone connection , renting apartment, open bank acct etc).

3) Can I choose not to pay National Insurance tax?

4)) Do they send NI plastic card by postal mail? Or do I collect it from their office? I am asking because I will not have proper address when go to UK. I will stay in hotel (not sure where to stay).

Thanks!

[geriatrix]

I got Tier 1 general from delhi

Anything out of the ordinary? ...... because every post of yours starts off with this sentence!

See National Insurance.

Reading this will also be useful.


regards

[wunder]

I got Tier 1 general from delhi.

1) Is National Insurance same as SSN (social security number) in USA? Which number do companies use to judge credit history of a person in UK?

2) Is NI number also used in opening bank accounts? I am asking because when I was in USA, they require SSN number for everything we do (getting phone connection , renting apartment, open bank acct etc).

3) Can I choose not to pay National Insurance tax?

4)) Do they send NI plastic card by postal mail? Or do I collect it from their office? I am asking because I will not have proper address when go to UK. I will stay in hotel (not sure where to stay).

Thanks!

1) Similar but only used for tracking about of NI you've paid (and pensions).

2) No, NI number is not used for identification.

3) No.

4) As far as I remember they can send it by post, but I doubt they will send it to the hotel. But the card is rather unimportant really - it is just a piece of plastic with NI number engraved on it (no magnetic strip or anything). If you will ever lose it (or not even get it), no big deal - you will just need to tell the number on request.

[geriatrix]

You will apply for NI only when you start working. And, hopefully by that time, you would have found a place to live.

regards